Overview Experience Case Studies Insights Events News Outside the Office Community Leadership

Steven R. Allen

Senior Counsel

Milwaukee
phone: 414.978.5424
fax: 414.223.5000

email: [email protected]

Overview Experience Case Studies

Insights Events News

Outside the Office Community Leadership

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“It was a pleasure working with Steve during our estate-planning process. Who would have guessed that the process would have been so enjoyable! What made it even better was Steve’s willingness to share a few stories of his own. We were able to move forward and make decisions based on reasoning that was personal to us.”

Mid-career married couple with children

Overview

Clients trust Steve with the facts of their financial situations, enabling him to create thoughtful estate plans that reflect the spirit of clients’ wishes as well as the letter of the law.

Steve knows the intricacies of estate planning, trust and estate administration and succession planning for privately held businesses and the families who own them. He works closely with clients to develop legal documents that satisfy their personal and financial goals, anticipate unforeseen circumstances and avoid negativity.

The plans Steve develops are always designed to maximize savings of income tax, gift tax, estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax. He fine-tunes existing estate plans by developing wills, trusts and other agreements that suit the situation. Steve also has extensive experience with family limited partnerships, limited liability companies and sales to grantor trusts that preserve family wealth for future generations.

Mid-career married couple with children

Industry

Financial Services & Capital Markets

Service

Private Wealth

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®
- Trusts and Estates, 2008-2025
Wisconsin Super Lawyers, 2007-2009

Education

J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Centre d'Etudes Pratiques, Paris, France

Admissions

Wisconsin

Professional Memberships and Certifications

Milwaukee Estate Planning Forum
State Bar of Wisconsin

Featured Experience

Quick Action Saves Family Business When Owners Die at Sea

When married business owners who were their company’s only officers and directors drowned in a boating accident, an executor had to be appointed as soon as possible. The tragedy occurred on a Saturday; payroll was due the following Friday. Steve assisted with court proceedings, and within a week the judge appointed an executor, who then elected a board of directors. The board quickly appointed new company officers, and payroll was met on time. All employees stayed with the company, which continued to operate successfully. With Steve’s assistance, the company later was sold and the proceeds distributed to the couple’s children.

Additional Experience

Estate Planning

Advised hundreds of married and engaged couples on implications and nuances of Wisconsin marital property law; prepared custom marital property agreements to facilitate planning.
Counseled clients on complexities of international estate planning and administration of estates and trusts of residents and nonresidents.
Guided families through complex estate and tax planning in diverse business realms such as agricultural, industrial, automotive and manufacturing.

Trust and Estate Administration

Advised more than 1,000 executors and trustees on relevant details and contingencies of trust and estate administration, asset distribution and tax ramifications; assisted with preparation of income, estate and gift tax returns when appropriate.

Tax Planning and Administration

Prepared wills and trusts, including revocable trusts, life insurance trusts, gift trusts and trusts for the benefit of minor children.

Tax Controversy

Saved client estate taxes of more than $1 million.
Prevailed on behalf of individuals, trusts and estates before Internal Revenue Service and Wisconsin Department of Revenue in matters of gift, estate and income taxes.
Guided clients toward satisfactory conclusions of challenging estate and gift tax audits.

News Releases | August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers in America® Places More than 250 Husch Blackwell Lawyers in 2025 Rankings

News Releases | August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers in America® Places More than 230 Husch Blackwell Lawyers in 2024 Rankings

News Releases | August 18, 2022

Best Lawyers in America® Places More than 170 Husch Blackwell Lawyers in 2023 Rankings

News Releases | August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers in America® Places More Than 170 Husch Blackwell Lawyers in 2022 Rankings

Media Mentions | October 2020

Best Lawyers® 2021: The Midwest Issue

News Releases | August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers in America® Names 170 Husch Blackwell Attorneys, 12 "Lawyers of the Year"

Outside the Office

Ask Steve what he enjoys when he’s not with clients, and his answer comes presto!

He is devoted to classical opera—particularly the opera companies in Madison and Milwaukee—and favors the melodies and drama of Verdi, Puccini and Bizet.

Steve also enthusiastically attends Metropolitan Opera Live in HD cinema transmissions. In addition to relishing the bravura performances, he applauds the hosts who at intermission interview individuals affiliated with the Met.

Community Leadership

A friend of France and Milwaukee, Steve helps French language and culture thrive in his city.

Steve incorporated Milwaukee’s chapter of the international organization L’Alliance Française in 1992 and secured its tax-exempt status. He has overseen its governance since 1993 as a member of the group’s board of directors. Steve and his wife, a retired teacher who taught at the Milwaukee French Immersion School, visit France regularly and thoroughly enjoy French culture and cuisine.